Illinois hires Bridge to coach offensive line

Jim Bridge, an assistant at North Carolina State the last six seasons, has been named offensive line coach at Illinois. His hiring was announced Wednesday by Illini head coach Tim Beckman.

Bridge served as offensive line coach the past two seasons at N.C. State after he coached tight ends the previous four years.

Jim Bridge, an assistant at North Carolina State the last six seasons, has been named offensive line coach at Illinois. His hiring was announced Wednesday by Illini head coach Tim Beckman.

Bridge served as offensive line coach the past two seasons at N.C. State after he coached tight ends the previous four years.

The 2012 Wolfpack offense averaged more than 420 yards per game and ranked 18th nationally in passing yards per game (310.1). In 2008, Bridge was named one of the top recruiters in the nation by Rivals.com.

Bridge takes over an Illini line that struggled last season. Illinois averaged just 296.7 yards and 16.7 points per game in a 2-10 season.

“I’m very excited to work with an outstanding coach and man in Tim Beckman,” Bridge said in a news release. “Illinois is a great fit for me, personally, and Coach Beckman has assembled an outstanding staff. As a coach, you always look forward to competing in a premier conference like the Big Ten and at one of the nation’s great academic institutions such as the University Illinois. I can’t wait to get started with the members of our team and especially our offensive linemen.”

At Illinois, Bridge succeeds Luke Butkus. Butkus recently was named offensive line coach and run game coordinator under new Florida International coach Ron Turner.

Bridge has 21 years of collegiate coaching experience.

Prior to his six-year stint at N.C. State, Bridge helped coach the Boston College offense that led the ACC in total offense in 2005 and ranked second in the league in 2006.

Bridge has previously served as offensive line coach at Eastern Michigan (2002) and The Citadel (1996-99), and spent one year at Bowling Green as the tight ends coach (2000) while Beckman was there as the defensive coordinator.